CUSTOM TRAVEL PROGRAMS Mini Trips

Highlights of Istanbul & Culinary Experiences (3 nights / 4 days)

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
Arrive at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel located in the city center, just a few steps away from Taksim Square. After check-in we meet for a welcome briefing and orientation tour of the area. We proceed to Taksim Square for a walking tour. Tonight we dine at a local restaurant, located on Istiklal Street.

 

Gourmet details: Beyoglu district, and Istiklal Street in particular, is one of the culinary centers of Turkey. Enjoying a cultural and architectural revival, this area boasts many chic cafés, bars, bistros, and restaurants. Istiklal Street is favored by both Istanbul’s residents and guests because of its unprecedented options for wining and dining. Here we dine at a restaurant specializing in Ottoman-style meals and kebabs. After dinner, there is an informal lecture on Turkish cuisine.

Included meals: Dinner

Day 2: Istanbul
We meet this morning and drive to Sultanahmet for a full-day tour. Our day begins with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, an area that was once the center of Byzantine civic life. We continue to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque, because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white 17th century Iznik tiles. Next we visit Hagia Sophia, often described as the greatest work of Byzantine architecture. Our next stop is Topkapi Palace where we first break for lunch before proceeding with our tour. Once home of the Ottoman sultans who ruled a vast empire spread across three continents, the palace is a museum today, housing the spectacular artifacts found in this site including the famous treasury of the sultans. A large collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain is displayed in an extensive kitchen complex which once served the 5800 inhabitants of the palace. We also see the dormitories of the cooks with more displays in them. We finish the day at the Grand Bazaar. This bazaar will tempt even non-shoppers with nearly 4,000 shops exhibiting a rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, antiques, and souvenirs.

We have our lunch today in a restaurant specializing in Ottoman imperial cuisine in Sultanahmet. Here we enjoy a cold specialty appetizer of the day prepared in olive oil, traditional Turkish pastry stuffed with cheese, kebab prepared with smoked eggplant puree, and an assortment of Turkish desserts.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Istanbul
Our tour begins today with a visit to the Spice Market which was built as part of the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) complex and has since been an exciting covered market filled with the fragrant scent of spices from the Orient. Unlike the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market has retained its original character to some extent. Today, the majority of the shops in the market still specialize in spices, herbs, nuts and dried fruits. Connoisseurs of Istanbul frequent the delicatessens in and around the market. The main shop of the biggest Turkish coffee producer is too around the corner. The extremely lively atmosphere here adds to the cornucopia appearance of the shop entrances.

After our visit we embark on a public boat and start our cruise of the Bosphorus Strait. The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. This boat ride takes us past late Ottoman Palaces, as well as beautiful wooden mansions and modern villas of the 19th and 20th centuries which form this elegant section of the city. In a very relaxing and enjoyable way we have an insight to the past, present and the future of Istanbul. The silhouette of the old city at distance summarizes what we have already seen in this tour. The solemn and subtle beauty of the old mansions which once belonged to the Ottoman pashas can be seen side by side with the loudly decorated ones owned by rich industrialists of today.

We disembark at the seafront quarter of Ortakoy and explore this lively area. Ortakoy is a typical Bosphorus shore-side quarter. Like most traditional seafront areas, freshly caught fish and sea products are available throughout the year. We drive to the home of our host in Nisantasi which is the upscale fashion district of Istanbul.

''Private Dining in a Turkish Home''
This unforgettable Turkish culinary experience includes the opportunity to learn the preparation of some traditional dishes and seasonal recipes in an authentic Turkish home. We say "make yourselves at home" in Turkey and we mean it! Join our host Selin Rozanes for a hands-on experience preparing a Turkish menu followed by lunch.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Homebound departure from Istanbul
After breakfast we transfer to Istanbul Airport for homebound departure.

Included meals: Breakfast

Prices ( per person in shared room and in USD ):

Istanbul ( 3 nights / 4 days ) Price Table

2 participants	4 participants	6 participants	10 participants
$ 995.00	$ 875.00	$ 790.00	$ 690.00

Price of the package includes

1. Accommodation in hotels:
   3 nights Istanbul: Central Palace (near Taksim Square) or Ottoman Imperial (old town)
   

2. 6 Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 2 lunches (one home-hosted), and 1 dinner

3. Services of a licensed professional tour guide (private)

4. Transportation with comfortable, modern, air conditioned, chauffeur driven cars, vans or minibuses appropriate to the size of your group (private)

5. Admission fees to sites and museums

6. Parking, ferry, toll road fees

7. Gratuity at restaurants where meal is included in the program

Price of the package excludes :

1. Airfare of international flights and related taxes

2. Soft and alcoholic beverages, unless otherwise stated

3. Optional gratuities to the tour guides and drivers

4. Travel insurance

5. Visas, laundry, and personal items